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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Petr Sykora scored two goals and
Bobby Holik got the game-winner as the New Jersey Devils beat
Atlanta 3-2 Saturday, extending the Thrashers' winless streak to 10
games.
Holik broke a 2-2 tie midway through the final period for New
Jersey, 9-1-4 in its last 14 games.
|  | | Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, right, made 36 saves to raise his season record to 22-8-8. |
Holik looked at the opportunity to center for Patrik Elias and
Sykora as an unanticipated treat.
"It's like when a dog is obedient and you give him a nice
bone," Holik said. "This was one of those bones for me."
New Jersey coach Larry Robinson broke up his top line for the
third period, replacing Jason Arnott with Holik. The move paid off
as the revised trio clicked immediately.
"The coach felt the team needed a little shakeup," Holik said.
"It's a different game to play with them."
Arnott refused to blow the demotion into a large-scale
controversy.
"Larry wanted to shake it up a little," Arnott said. "If
that's what it takes to win, then by all means do it."
Atlanta, 0-8-2 during its slump, got goals from Steve Staios and
Yves Sarault.
The Thrashers, hard hit by the loss of Andrew Brunette to a
concussion and Donald Audette to a suspension, don't have the depth
to compensate for the loss of top offensive players.
"There is no question that when you take so many players out of
the lineup, you are going to be outmanned," Thrashers center Ray
Ferraro said. "When you are a new team, you might not have the
depth."
The teams exchanged goals in the first period with New Jersey
striking first on an unassisted goal by Sykora.
The Devils' right wing intercepted a pass from Atlanta's Patrik
Stefan at the New Jersey blueline. Sykora broke away from the pack
to beat Damian Rhodes at 7:38.
Atlanta responded with 19 seconds left in the period, when
Staios' blueline shot hit Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer and
deflected past Martin Brodeur.
After the teams battled through a scoreless second period, the
Thrashers took a 2-1 lead 26 seconds into the third period on the
goal by Sarault. Ray Ferraro drilled a hard shot from the left
circle that Brodeur blocked. The rebound went right to Sarault on
the right side for an easy score into a half-empty net.
Sykora connected again at 4:54 to pull New Jersey even at 2-2.
Patrik Elias chipped the puck from behind the Atlanta net into the
slot to Sykora who flubbed the shot. But the puck fluttered past
Rhodes for Sykora's 15th goal.
Holik's goal came on a power play at 9:41. He beat Rhodes from
the high slot as Turner Stevenson provided an effective screen.
Game
notes
The Devils have never lost to the Thrashers. They are 6-0-1
against the second-year team. Brodeur was the starter and got the
decision in every game, ... Rhodes, in contrast, has never beaten
New Jersey. He is 0-4-1 against the Devils over the course of a
nine-year career. ... Sarault was recalled from Orlando (IHL) on
Friday.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 3
Atlanta 2
Los Angeles 6
Carolina 3
Colorado 2
San Jose 1
NY Rangers 2
Montreal 2
Ottawa 3
Tampa Bay 0
Philadelphia 5
Florida 3
Toronto 2
Buffalo 0
St. Louis 3
Vancouver 0
Edmonton 2
Detroit 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Petr Sykora intercepts a Thrashers' pass and takes it in for his first goal.
avi: 684 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Bobby Holik's power-play goal proves to be the game winner for the Devils.
avi: 556 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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